Forget Workington Man. It's Walsall Man that could be crucial

Forget Workington Man. It’s Walsall Man that could be crucial to swinging this General Election, writes NEIL TWEEDIE

First there was Workington Man. Now he has been superseded by the latest version of homo politicus… Walsall Man.

He inhabits a traditionally Labour-voting seat which has seen better days. The heavy industry that provided Walsall’s jobs has, like that of Workington, largely disappeared.

Walsall is more favourably situated than its far-flung Cumbrian counterpart, lying as it does in the heart of the Black Country, just north of Birmingham. But it exhibits the same symptoms of urban decline, including a hollowed-out town centre which this year witnessed the closure of its branch of M&S. Never a good sign.

Walsall is in the heart of the Black Country still has symptoms of urban decline, including a hollowed-out town centre

So why Walsall’s sudden notoriety? In one word, Brexit. Walsall is prime Leave territory. Both Conservative-held Walsall North and Labour-held Walsall South voted strongly to quit the European Union in the 2016 referendum.

A prime target, then, for Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party. And indeed, Walsall North was the scheduled launch pad for its election campaign, due on Friday.

That was before Mr Farage’s volte face yesterday in which he withdrew all Brexit Party candidates standing in seats won by the Tories in the 2017 election. The strongly pro-Leave Tory candidate in Walsall North can breathe more easily.

But here in Walsall South, the Conservatives face the same problem as before: a Brexit Party candidate who threatens to split the Leave vote, allowing Labour to hold on to the seat. Bad news for Boris Johnson, who needs to win dozens of Walsall Souths and Workingtons – Labour seats in the Midlands and North with substantial Leave majorities – if he is to drive Brexit through.

Politics are tribal in Walsall, which has returned a Labour MP since 1974. Current MP Valerie Vaz, shadow Leader of the House and sister of disgraced Labour MP Keith Vaz, won by more than 8,000 votes in 2017.

The town’s MP Valerie Vaz, shadow Leader of the House and sister of disgraced Labour MP Keith Vaz, won by more than 8,000 votes in 2017

But she is also a convinced Remainer – in a town that voted by 68 per cent to Leave. The Brexit Party has a popular candidate in Gary Hughes, locally born and a former policeman and civil servant, who could take chunks out of both Labour and the Tories.

Out and about in a cold and windy town centre yesterday, we found a politically fluid situation that, if replicated in Labour Leave seats, makes this strange election all the harder to call.

Stewart Prebble, 72, a pastor and street preacher, describes himself as a strong Brexiteer. He has voted Labour in the past but would now vote for either the Conservatives or the Brexit Party.

‘I’d vote for anyone who would get us out of the Roman Empire,’ he says. ‘Corbyn is too Left-wing. Far too many people have left Labour because of anti-Semitism for me to think it a coincidence.

‘If it were not for Brexit, I would probably vote for Valerie Vaz. But Parliament has obstructed the will of the people.’

Tim Williams, 35, who worked as an administrator but is currently unemployed, is a Leave supporter who has traditionally voted Labour but is now undecided.

Stewart Prebble (left) has voted Labour in the past but would now vote for either the Conservatives or the Brexit Party. Kevin McGarrity (right) usually votes Labour and will do so again

‘It’s 50/50 whether I would vote for the Brexit Party or Labour,’ he says. ‘I definitely will not be voting for the Conservatives. Look at how they have handled Brexit: they have completely messed it up.’

Leatherwork was Walsall’s signature in its industrial heyday. Walsall FC’s nickname, The Saddlers, echoes its history as a centre of saddle-making. The industry still exists but the town, once in Staffordshire but now part of the West Midlands’ immense urban sprawl, is badly in need of investment.

Brexit Party candidate Gary Hughes, 59, believes this is more likely if Britain controls its own trade policy. He doesn’t like Boris Johnson’s deal but can see the logic of withdrawing from Tory-held seats.

However, he thinks the Brexit Party stands a better chance than the Conservatives in Walsall South and would be very reluctant to stand down. ‘Traditional Labour voters cannot find it within themselves to vote Conservative,’ he says. ‘And I really don’t think Leave voters here would transfer to the Tories if I stood down.’

There is certainly backing for his insurgent party.

Keith Smith, 73, who is retired, voted Leave and would now back the Brexit Party, despite previously supporting Labour. ‘I would vote for Nigel Farage in this election,’ he says. ‘Corbyn wants to give everybody everything. Who will pay it back?’

But Labour loyalties also run deep.

Kevin McGarrity, 58, who is unemployed, backed Leave and usually votes Labour. ‘I would vote Labour this time. I’m a traditionalist. It’s always been that way,’ he says.

‘I don’t like the Conservatives. I think Nigel Farage is dangerous.’

It’s clear that any celebrations in Conservative HQ at Mr Farage’s tactical retreat could prove premature.

Walsall Man, and countless others like him in Labour-held constituencies across the country, hold the key to Britain’s future. And Boris Johnson would be foolish in the extreme to take him for granted.

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